Adjustable headband construction



April 24, 1951 R. MALCOM ADJUSTABLE HEADBAND CONSTRUCTION Filed June 11, 1945 11km, A: A EVA A II I. i s

e Narnia Patented Apr. 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE HEADBAND CONSTRUCTION Robert L. Malcom, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Eye Shield Company, a corporation of Illinois Application June 11, 1945, Serial No. 598,849

4 Claims.

provide a headband in which the movable por-' tions of the headband are controlled by means of a geared engagement of such portions to a locking means.

Among the other objects of'the invention is the provision of a headband having a substantially smooth inner surface, the provision of a headband that is adjustable without being removed from the wearers head, and the provision of a headband that will remain in its adjusted position until released.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the drawing appended thereto.

In the drawing in which like reference characters refer to like parts:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view in elevation of the headband shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is'a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, the headband II comprises circular strip I2 having overlapping ends I3 and I4. The end portions I3 and I4 have slots I6 and I1 formed lengthwise of the strip. Sleeve I8 is positioned around the overlapped end portions I3 and I4, and provides a substantially smooth inner surface I9 for contact with the wearers head, Locking means 2| is provided in the front of the headband for adjustment of the overlapped portions I3 and [4 within the sleeve I8. Cross piece 22, adapted to fit over the wearers head, may be utilized with the headband. Cross piece 22 is secured to the sides of strip I2 by fastening means 23. Anchor members 24 may be provided in conjunction with the cross piece 22 for attaching the headband to a helmet or other device with which the headband may be used.

The headband may be formed of a durable,

semi-rigid material such as phenol-formaldehyde resin, urea-formaldehyde resin, hard rubber,

metal, or the like. A material that has been found to be particularly suitable for the headband construction is a cured plastic having me-. chanical properties of cellulose acetate. Locking means 2I and anchor members 24 may be suitably formed of metal. o

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, opposite walls of slots I6 and II are provided with rack teeth 25 thereby providing rack 26 on end portion I3 and rack 21 on end portion I4. As shown, the racks are on opposite Walls of the slots.

Locking means 2I comprises a gear element 28 and knob .29. The gear element 28 includes a hub withv teeth 3| and a head 32. Threaded orifice 33 is'provided in the center of gear element 28. The teeth 3I of the gear element are; adapted to mesh with and engage therack teeth 25of racks 26 and 21. Head 32.is provided to bear against the overlapped end portion that isadjacentthe inner wall I9 of the sleeve. The knob 29 includes threaded shank 34 adapted to engage the threads inside of orifice 33.

Slots I6 and I1, provided in the end portions l3 and I4, are of suificient width to accommodate the teeth'3l of gear element 28. Likewise, the width of the teeth 3| issuflicient to provide engagement with racks 26 and 21.

Sleeve I8 may be formed of the samematerial as the strip I 2 and has a, suflicient cross-sectional dimension to conveniently contain overlapped portions I3 and I4. Aperture 35 may be provided in the outer wall 20 of the sleeve to receive shank portion 34 of knob 29. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, aperture 35 is of a sufiiciently large diameter also to receive the portion of knob 29 forming a bearing surface 36. By this construction, bearing surface 36 is adapted to contact the overlapped end portion that is adjacent outer wall 20 of the sleeve.

Flange 31 is provided on that portion of knob 29 adjacent outer wall 20 of the sleeve. The dimensions of flange 31 are such that when knob 29 is tightened so that the end portions I3 and I4 are clamped between the bearing surface 36 and the head 32, flange 31 is close to but out of contact with wall 20. In this manner, the flange provides a guard against foreign matter entering aperture 35.

The gearelement 28 of the locking means is positioned within sleeve I8 in conjunction with racks 26 and 21 of the end portions. Head 32 is maintained between wall I9 of the sleeve and the end portion adjacent such wall, this end portion being designated I3 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 3. The teeth 3| extend toward the wall 20 of the sleeve and into slots I6 and 11. In this position, the teeth 3| engage the teeth of racks 26 and 2?. Knob 29 is secured to gear element 28 by the threaded engagement of shank 34 with the Walls of orifice 33. Upon tightening knob 29, bearing surface 36 is brought into contact with the overlapped end portion adjacent wall 20 of the sleeve, thereby clamping end portions l3 and [4 between bearing surface 36 and head 32 of the gear element.

In assembling the headband, cross piece 22' and anchor members 24 are secured to strip l2. With sleeve I8 positioned over strip 12, the end portions 13 and M are overlapped with slots I6 and 11 in alignment with each other. Gear element 28 is inserted in the slots so' that the teeth 3| engage the middle teeth of racks 26 and 21. Head 32 of the gear wheel is in contact with the end portion adjacent wall IQ of the sleeve. The sleeve is then slipped over the overlapped end portionsuntil aperture 35 is in alignment with orifice 33. Knob 29 is then secured to the gear element by a threaded engagement of the shank 34in the orifice.

The headband ll may be adjusted as to size by loosening knob '29 and moving endportions l3 and M lengthwise within the sleeve. Upon obtaining the desired size of the headband, knob 29 is tightened thereby clamping end portions 13 and I4 between bearing surface 36 and head 32 of the gear element. Readjustment of the headband maybe eifected in a similar manner.

Inthe modification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4, the aperture 35 of wall 20 of the sleeve is'formed with a diameter larger than that of shank portion '34 and smaller than that of the portion of knob 29 providing bearing surface 36. When shank 34 is secured to gear element 28 by threaded engagement within orifice 33, bearing surface" 36 is adapted to contact outer wall '28 6f the" sleeve. I'Ipon tightening knob 29, wall 2!! and end portions f3: and H! are clamped between pearingsurface 36 and head 32.

"one important use of the headband that is contemplated is in conjunction with helmet constructions. Protective helmets for military or industrial purposes may be made more comfortable'fo'r the wearer by utilizing the headband embodying the invention. v

The above detaileddescription is given for purposes of illustration and the invention is to be limited only by' the scope of the appended claims.

" I claim:

I, An adjustable head band comprising a circular strip having overlapping ends and slots in the overlapping ends extending lengthwise of the strip, rack teeth formed on opposite walls of the slots", and a locking means extending through the slots including a gear element having teeth engageable with the rack teeth and a head overlyingoneof the overlapping ends, a knob having a bearing surface overlying the other overlapping end and a screw threaded connection between the gear element and knob for clamping the overlapping ends between the head and knob.

2. An adjustable head band comprising a circular strip having overlapping ends and slots in the overlapping ends extending lengthwise of the strip, rack teeth formed on opposite walls of the slots, a sleeve around the overlapping ends and provided with an aperture, and a locking means extending through the slots and the aperture including a gearelement having teeth engageable with the rack teeth and a head overlying one of the overlapping ends, a knob having a bearing surface overlying the other overlapping end and a screw threaded connection between the gear elementand knob for clamping the overlapping ends between the head and knob.

- 3, An adjustable head band comprising a circular strip having overlapping ends and slots in the overlapping ends extending lengthwise of the strip, rack teeth formed on opposite walls of the slots, a sleeve around the overlapping ends and provided with an aperture, and a'locking means extending through the slots and the aperture ineluding a gear element having teeth engageable with the rack teeth and a head overlying one of the overlapping ends and interposed between said overlapping end and the sleeve, a knob having a bearing surface overlying the other overlapping end and extending through the aperture and a screw threaded connection between the gear elemnet and knob for clamping the overlapping ends between the head and knob.

4. An adjustable'head band comprising a circular strip having overlapping ends and slots in the overlapping ends extending lengthwise of the strip, rack teeth formed on opposite walls of the slots, a sleeve around the overlapping ends and provided with an aperture, and a locking means extending through the slots and the aperture including a gear element having teeth engageable with the rack teeth and a head overlying one of the overlapping ends and interposed between said overlapping end and the sleeve, a knob having a bearing surface overlying the other overlapping end' and engaging the sleeve and a screw threaded connecton between the gear element and knob for clamping the overlapping ends between the head and knob.

' ROBERT L. MALCOM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,205,741 Bowers June 25, 1940 2,205,742 Bowers June 25, 1940 2,213,118 Bowers Aug. 27, 1940 2,349,218 Welsh May 16, 1944 

